For the Healing of the Nations

For the Healing of the Nations

The following message was delivered Sunday, November 25, 2007 as a part of a sermon series, "Forty Days of Healing"

Texts:    Isaiah 42:5-9

1 Peter 2:9-10

John 1:1-4

 

For the Healing of the Nations

 

It can be overwhelming

 

    To consider the illness of the nations.

 

If the Butterfly Effect of Chaos is true – that is – if a Buttefly flaps its wings in China, the result is a tornado in Kansas –

 

Than so too today when one nation catches the flu,

the whole world contracts a virus.

 

But today I wish to address three of the symptoms of our global community crisis.

 

Consumerism may be the most easily recognizable.

 

    A drive for more comes for some as a means to an end: More stuff brings with it a false sense of significance, security, self-worth.

 

One buys the newest and greatest gadget, car, appliance, home; only to crash on the consumer high when the need hits again for the next newest need.

 

Consumerism is driven by a market which convinces communities to want what is not needed.

 

    When Ma Bell came out with the first, home-model telephone, the phone came in one color, black. The goal of the company was for every home in America to have a phone in the kitchen. It worked, sales went through the roof.

 

But once sales dropped off, how would the phone company convince families they needed another phone – most homes had one. The solution – new colors. Red, White, Yellow. And by the time I was a kid in the 70's the phones are bright orange and green, and most homes have several phones.

 

Today, most of us have phones in our pockets right now.

 

Consumerism.

 

It may look like this:

 

In Syracuse, NY a man arrived at the Best Buy store by 7pm on Thanksgiving evening in order to be prepared for the store's opening at 5am the following morning. His need was so great. And of course he wasn't alone, he was number 35 in line.

 

But consumerism is a global problem. Visiting Tanzania in 2005 we were given many beautiful gifts carved from the gorgeous wood of an Ebony tree. The sad news is that a member of our companion congregation in Tanga, Tanzania taught us that Ebony wood is being harvested so quickly, for the desire to sell to tourists, that the tree will not be seen in the region 50 years from now. You see it takes 50 years for the sapling to mature to a point where the wood may be used. This generation has no patience, no the desire to invest in the future, but only to make the sale today. The drive of consumerism will mean the end of Ebony.

 

 

Second Symptom: Global Crisis is Nationalism

 

Not talking about pride in a homeland

    

Not talking about being Thankful for living in a free and prosperous land.

 

Nationalism is what happens when patriotism is cranked up to a new level –

no matter who the nation is.

 

Nationalism is when a government becomes arrogant and ignorant towards the needs of the poor, the children, and the elderly;

While maintaining a sense of global imperialism.

 

Nationalism is an immigrant nation becoming fearful of the immigrant.

 

Nationalism is when a dictator holds the global economy hostage through the price of a barrel of oil.

 

Nationalism, like Consumerism is contagious.

While it may begin as political policy…

It quickly spreads into personal practice.

 

 

Third Symptom in Need of Global Healing is Classism

 

Our reaction to this submission may be that this is not a problem anymore.

 

    That we are beyond such a thing as classism.

 

But today while we would say there is a shrinking middle class

It seems we have a growing intolerance of the poor, the infirmed, the incarcerated.

 

Our culture – our global culture

- is quicker to give up on those who can't help themselves

    and discard those who have not lived up to our expectations.

 

In the U.S. Families living in poverty struggle to break free from higher costs of living than more affluent communities.

 

Poor neighborhoods endure higher food prices, diminished educational opportunities, and reduced community resources.

 

In India the Caste system is no longer legal. But practices of classism continue.

 

A Dalit - the name given to the outcast – is identified as soon as they step on a bus. They can not even afford shoes. And so, easily identified, they will not find a seat available, and may be harassed by unwelcome neighbors.

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And so what are we to say about all of this?

 

    What is our response, as the people of God?

 

        Where do we stand? Where do you stand?

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We read in Genesis that God made a promise to Abraham.

 

    Do you know what that promise was?

 

That Abraham would be the Ancestor of Many Nations

 

– Abraham means = Ancestor to the Multitudes [Genesis 17]

 

So we see that God's promise was not a promise to one nation – but to all nations.

 

What is that Promise?

 

That the God who is the source of Light, the Creator of Life is with us graciously giving us all we need.

 

The Promise is that Christ; the Light of the World has come to us, to all the nations, and is now in us.

 

Hear this again from Isaiah

 

Thus says God, the Lord,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

⁶     I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,

I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,

a light to the nations,

⁷     to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

 

 

From this passage we experience who God is, who we are, and our role in the healing of the world.

 

We who believe – we are recipients of the Light – inheritors of Gracious Life!

 

And now we are called to carry the light – to bring forth the kingdom of God.

 

 

The Light brings healing as we are claimed CHILDREN of God.

 

As sons and daughters of our gracious God,

our view of the economy is different.

 

    We do have enough, we are worthy, and we are significant.

 

A parent will teach a child when they have enough. It happens this time of year every time a child sees a commercial for a new toy and mom or dad or a grandparent says, "You don't need that toy, you have enough."

 

 

In experiencing God's grace through a relationship with God, we learn we have enough too.

 

We don't need to consume to satisfy; we are okay with who we are.

 

Because God cares for us and God gifts each of us;

we all have something to share.

 

As sons and daughters of the source of life

we are transformed from consumers, to stewards.

 

The Light brings healing

because we are called to be CITIZENS of the Kingdom of God

 

Now as Citizens of the Kingdom of God we can see that we are more than Americans or Mexicans, Russians or Chinese, French or Liberian;

we are siblings in one family.

 

In 1 Peter we see The Light of Christ unites us into one people, one holy nation.

So we see now that as the light has gone out to all nations,

In the light of Christ we become one people, one race, one body.

 

Because of the light we can see across borders

and are called to find just solutions and policies

which treat others as fellow citizens in the Kingdom of God.

 

Healing happens through us, by the light when this view intersects our politics.

 

    Healing happens through us when this view influences our policies.

 

 

Finally, the Light brings healing because in the Light

ALL are welcome, ALL are invited, All gifts are valued.

 

To teach about Tanzania we've sometimes shown a panoramic map of the World at Night. If you can imagine this map in your mind you might see what you expect to see. Showing the lights of the world, you can see the developed nations clearly. The Northeast regions of the US and around Los Angeles are two of the brightest spots on the map. Western Europe is bright, parts of China…

 

Africa is noticeably dark.

 

When we landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania you couldn't see lights on the ground as you can flying into Philadelphia. As you get closer, the only light is a dim orange glow of charcoal fires on the road sides.

 

It might fool you.

 

For the continent is bright. The faith is strong. The church in Africa is growing faster than any other place in the world. The light of the World is present.

 

If we were to take a "Light of Christ" photograph of the world, Africa would be the brightest light on the map! Thanks be to God!

 

The Light is Bright – And its' glow brings healing to those who see it.

 

There is Healing for the Nations – The Light of Christ is in the world

– The Kingdom of God is Here

 

In you, in me, The Promise of God, for the Healing of the Nations.

 

Amen.

Sermon: In the Midst of Darkness

Christmas Eve, 2006

Luke 2

"In the Midst of Darkness"

It had bee the longest three days of their lives. This had not been the easiest of pregnancies. The surprise conception would have been enough, Joseph had nearly ended the relationship, they both had relied on their faith to get to this point. But traveling the rough terrain from Nazareth to Bethlehem had not been easy.

When they started the journey they had their spirits up, were ready for the trip to Bethlehem. Singing songs, playing word games with the scenery they passed along the road. But the journey hadn't been easy. They couldn't imagine three days feeling any longer. Mary couldn't imagine that she'd ever be so worried about her child, as she was during these three days for the baby still within her. Until now it always seemed something to be proud of, Joseph being in King David's family line that is, now it seemed like a burden. And when they finally arrived in Bethlehem, the end of that third day, the long shadows of the rough road had given way to a dark, starless night.

In the midst of that darkness. Of the shame Mary felt every time an inn refused. Of the exhaustion the young couple felt, even before labor pangs began, in the midst of this darkness, (pause) the baby kicks, and Mary's cheeks flush, and she remembers the light.

When the angel had come to tell her of God's favor upon her, a bright light had shone all around.

And when Joseph's impulsive anger turned to understanding because the spirit had visited upon him, there was a light, a brightness in Joseph's eyes and smile.

And when they had entered Elizabeth's home, singing out in joy, it seemed the whole house was illuminated with happyness. And Mary remembered what the angel had said, she was carrying the Light.

Chris Gardner's father walked out on him when he was three. He vowed he would never walk out on his son. In the new release "The Pursuit of Happyness" Will Smith takes on a role, playing the life of a real person, which is more meaningful than chasing aliens and playing a person whose real life takes more strength than the Greatest, Mohammed Ali.

Chris Gardner is a man who slowly, loses everything, his wife, his car, his home. Chris' son, Christopher, is his life, and when he was born, he made a vow that he would never leave him.

-In his pursuit of Happyness Chris Gardner meets a stock broker on the street, upon seeing his fire red ferrari asks, "what do you do, and what did you have to do to get to where you are." Upon this man's advice Chris applies for an internship, and gets it. But the six month internship doesn't pay, part of what contributes to Chris and his son losing first their apartment, and then a hotel room.

On the darkest of nights, Chris locks himself in a subway bathroom. With his son, asleep, held tightly against his chest, Chris blocks other patrons from coming in the door with his foot, and can't sleep through the fear and the tears. In this darkest of nights, He holds onto his son. The light for Chris is essential to life. It is by moon lights some nights that he studies for his internship. Without the light in scanner he sells, he would have no money at all. But most of all, his son is his light. Their light for each other, will carry them through the darkest of days. Wherever they go, they go hand in hand, and Chris would make it through his internship, and today, the light shines from him brightly.

Have you come in from the darkness? Do you come tonight out of obligation or tradition, but have grown cold to it's effects? Do you come tonight searching for this holy one to make a difference, to inspire, to fill needs or fulfill your dreams? Do you come tonight lonely or lost, in search of significance? Do you come mourning and grieving the loss of a loved one? Or do you come personally satisfied with those around you and your comfortable Christmas scene, but broken hearted by the violence of our world? Have you come in from the darkness?

For the Shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night, darkness was all around them on that hillside that night.

It wasn't just the darkness of the starless sky, it was living life as a lonely, insignificant shepherd.

Often reserved for young men and women – shepherds could have been 12-15 years old.

Because of the nature of this dirty job, and the way a shepherd tends to take on the smell of a wet sheep that sleeps outside, the shepherds were outcast, separated from family, friends, community.

No one was inviting the shepherds over for a holiday party, or taking them out for a cup of coffee or a beer.

No one was inviting them to worship either, they weren't welcome in the temple.

Their darkness was not just the barren sky, it was their search for significance, their desire to be wanted.

Until the darkness was broken with a light from on high. The brightness and glory of the angel startled the shepherds with fear. Some, taken their shifts to sleep awoke with a fright.

But the words for those in the darkness is Fear Not, I bring you good news. To you a Savior is Born, to you the light of the world is given, to you, God comes,

And to the shepherds, and to us, as the angel confirmed the good news, we are given a light, and so we join Chris in the pursuit of Happyness, we join Mary and Joseph in carrying the light. With them we follow that star to Bethlehem

The Shepherds couldn't wait to get there…

And falling on their knees, the manger before them. Here, they were satisfied, here they felt so significant, here they experienced peace, here they received a gift of life, a gift of light! Here was the light, come into the world. Come to live in us. Come to be the bread for the world that gives life, even when we die. Here was the light that gives hope and joy passing all human understanding. And this light began to glow. And that light, the light of the World, the light of Christ, is a gift to each of us, and when released, gives light to the whole world.

Bob Paeglow and his wife had just moved into their new home with their two children. Bob was an x-ray technician, Leanne, Bob's wife a nursing student when Bob felt a call to go to Medical school and serve "many people." It was a pipe dream, they didn't have the money, Bob didn't have the grades. But he got in to Albany Medical College, the only school that would take him.

He graduated at the top of his class, and the hospital hired him, he could have been set. But this hadn't been why he was called.

So he decided to use his gifts to go to Africa for Mission trips, spending personal money and personal time, but wasn't enough, and when he came home, he couldn't help but to think about the poor in his own West Albany neighborhood where Bob grew up, and the mission trips weren't enough.

So Bob gave up his job, sold his house, and open a full service grace station for people in need in Albany.

Koinonia provides primary care and mental health care to the poor in the West Hill neighborhood and beyond. Dr. Bob has worked for 5 years without a salary to make this care possible. Leane has labored beside him as the office nurse and now as a Nurse for the Neighborhood Health Advocate Program, as well as the Neighborhood Association President. This is how Dr. Paeglow, hear the glow in his name, this is how he carries the light, in receiving the Association of American Medical College's 2006 Humanism Award winner, Dr. Paeglow says that, "I've come to the realization that life is not designed for our comfort, or pleasure, but for us to discover our gifts and contribute what we can to make life better for others." Bob's way to carry the light, was to give away what he had. This is how we carry the light too – we give that light to each other

This evening, in from the darkness, we too are witnesses to the light. We can not go home the same, for whatever reasons we came, we go home with light. This is God's gift for us, This is God's gift for the world, this is the gift we have to share with the world. This light of the World, came that we too might be the light, you are the light of the world.

Mary fell asleep that night, pondering all of this in her heart, the brightness of the light was all around.

The Shepherds went back to their fields that night, never to forget what they had experienced, seeing all which God had told them through the angel, and proclaiming praises to God.

Here this Day, in the City of Philadelphia, A Savior is born, Jesus is the light of the World, Carry the Light!

Amen.